Act Four Summary

Enya Hangan is confined to his residence, attended by Rikiya and his wife Kaoyo. He is visited by his chief of samurai, Hara Goemon, and samurai Ono Kudayu. Goemon is impressed to learn that Rikiya has remained with Hangan through the night and intends to stay by his side until Yuranosuke arrives. Goemon is hopeful for a positive outcome, but Kudayu chides him for being unrealistic. Kudayu, revealing his own greedy nature, offends Goemon by suggesting that the samurai chief might have averted disaster by bribing Moronao. Kaoyo quells the argument by explaining the root cause of the trouble - Moronao's lechery. The shogun's envoys arrive.

Hangan graciously welcomes Yakushiji Jirozaemon and Ishido Umanojo, offering each a cup of sake. Being a friend Moronao's, Yakushiji repays Hangan's hospitality with scorn. Ishido pronounces the shogun's sentence: Lord Hangan's lands are to be...